external image ruby.jpg

ruby.jpg

Austin Roys / Drew Wintermote


Hardness - A Ruby is 9.0 on the Mohs scale


Color - A Ruby is pink to blood red

Made of - Ruby is made up of chromium (pic of chromium)

Made of (atoms) - The type of atoms in a Ruby are AI2O3:Cr/ is formed from corundum

Crystals - A Ruby has trigonal crystals

Fracture - A Ruby has an uneven or jagged fracture

Cleavage - none

Streak - A Ruby has a white streak

Special characteristics - A Ruby glows red under a fluorescent light

Luster - A Rubies luster is vitreous

Formed - A Ruby crystals are formed at 620 - 670 C, they are formed in high grade metamorphic environments

Uses - Some of the uses for a ruby are jewelry, lasers, used as currency

Where they are found - Rubies are most often found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Greenland, but can also be found in the states of Montana and South Carolina. Rubies is not found in Iowa.

Density - The density of a Ruby is 4 g/ml


ruby_in_rock.jpg

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby

http://www.ehow.com/about_5254905_uses-gemstone-ruby.html

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/52420

http://www.ehow.com/about_5047576_density-ruby.html

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_are_rubies_formed